Automobile refreshment tray



Jan. 27, 19486 c. w. MORGAN 2,435,151

AUTOMOBILE REFRESHMENT TRAY Filed Dec. 10, 1943 IN VEN TOR. Clyde W Morgan AMAUMYQAM A'Horngys Patented Jan. 27, 1948 UNITED STATES OFFICE AUTOMOBILE REFR'E S'HMENT TRAY Clyde tWQMorgan, ntlantariGa.

ApplicationDecember 10, 19 4i3,.$eria1LNo.5.13313 'Generically this invention relates ''to trays or slidable shelf-like strueturegbutit more'particu- 'larly sisdirected to a refreshment tray assembly 'for attach-mentto'the instrument panelstructure of an automobile.

The principal object of *this invention isthe provisionof-a refreshment tray assembly for-*supporting beverage g'lasses,"bottles, condimentcontainers and "the like, 'for "serving refreshments comprising a sleeve "or 'jacket tray "supporting member formed with rounded orcurvedside portions and a tray member formed "with an im "tegral bottom portion having =upturne'd correspondingly curved side members, "'anupturned vertical end portion, *and "an end" plate secured to and overlying said end portion, said 'ttray adapted for telescopic engagement "within said sleeve member, said end plate adapted-to iimitthe insertable' movement "of the tray by engagement with the :end of-said sleeve, and disengageab-le coactingmeans between "the sleeve "and tray for normally preventing complete withdrawal of the tray from *the sleeve.

A further object ofthis invention is the provision of a tray assembly of 'this 'character comprising a substantiall rectangular sleeve member formedfrom one piece blank' of-suita ble material bent upwardly and inwardly forming rounded or curved side portions with the free ends of said material in non-meetingen gagemerit, forming a longitudinal slot-in its upper surface, reinforcing strips of suitable material interconnecting said free edges at 'each end of the sleeve, and a tray formeddrom one-pieced material having substantially simila'ndimensions telescopically engageable in said sleeve and formed with an integral -'-turned up end wall, complementally curved upstanding side :walls, said side walls ad acent the end wall being formed with inwardly projecting portions constituting condiment container holders.

With these and other obiects in view, which will become apparent 'as the description proceeds, the invention. resides ;-the :construction, combination and arrangement of parts, 'hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate ,like parts throughout the severalf gures, of which:'

,Fig. (1 is ,a perspective view-of rthe tray supporting sleeve.

.Fig. 2 is a perspective viewof the tray-detached from the supporting sleeve.

1522 11 elevational view ,ofithe removed from the tray.

in the illustrated embodiment wharacterizing this invention there is showna..-substantially;reotangular supporting sleeve or jacket member A, in the present instance, formed from a one-piece blank of metallic material with its opposite ends end IPIate bent upwardly and inwardly in sucha manner as to formthe bottom 1 rounded or curved side wal-ls i, and upper-portions? extending inspaced parallelismwithrespect to the "bottom I and with the-free end edges 4 of said'portions spaced apart to *form the slot 5. Said portions 3 constituting the top {6 and are connected by the metallic'rein-forcing strips "1 "of a length substantially corresponding to the width of 'the sleeve and-'are-secured thereto' by welding, soldering,-'-rivetingor*in"any suitable manner. Openings tare formed in sai d top 6 at one or both ends "throughwhich extend screws or other fastening elements *for se'curingthe sleeve to the under surface of the-instrument'board structure with its front 'end preferably =flush "therewith. For-convenience in mounting the sleeve in-supporting position siots 9 are formed in the 'bottom l through-which a-screw driver or "other instrument may be inserted as will=be well understood.

-Suitabiy and *hingedly secured to the front strip-1 within-said slot-5 is' a gravity operated T- shaped 'traystop or anchor member lflfor normally preventingcomplete separationof the tray irom thesleeve, as=will*directly more fully appear.

ThetrayB adapted for slidabletelescopic engagement with-respect to sleeve A, is formed from a one-piece strip of metal orthe like bent'to form the front end -ll extending upwardly at rightang'les with-respect to the'bottom l'Z andthe upwardlyextendingside members l 3 curved "conforming to and adapted toslidably engage the innersur'face OfS'idGSZ of said sleeve A and preferably-"extend rearwardly beyond the rear bottom edge 14 ofthe trayas at M to prevent any tilting of the latter when in extreme extended pos'ition. respective curved sides-i=3 terminate in the opposite inwardly extending edges [3' adapted-to'overhang'the bottom 12 for a' purpose directly more fully appearing. The bottom l2 is 'iormedatits rear edge with a struck up'portion 15 adapted "to align with 'slot 5 when the tray'is positionedin-sleeve A and to constitute aqstop membergtoengagethe depending T-memher 'I 0 toprevent complete disengagement of the tray from .the sleeve when said tray ,is moved outwardly in opening direction. To effect complete ,disengagement and removal of the tray, it is'only necessaryftoliit or. elevate 'thepT-me'mber 1'0 with a finger sufficiently to clear'the stop 1'5, and pull "the tray out, and it may be replaced bysimply inserting it.in the open end of the sleeve and sliding. ititherein, as the stop member 15' will automaticallyelevate'jthe T-member and, as it ,passes, said member .willia'll to its initial traystolqpin mosition,.as willlbewellunderstood.

An end or face plate It is adapted to be superimposed on end H and is formed on its inner surface with countersunk threaded openings (not 'tuting holders therefor.

stitute a stop for limiting the insertable move ment of the tray with respect to said sleeve. The exposed or outer surface is preferably ornamentally treated to match the finish of the instrument board to which the tray assembly is attached, and to form in most instances a continuation thereof.

Further, the curved side portions l3 are out away at one end as at l8 to form portions l9 and providing the corner openings I9, said portions 19 being bent downwardly, and their free ends 20 slightly upwardly to bring them substantially into lateral positions within said corner openings, and are formed with openings 2| to receive salt and pepper or like condiment containers and consti- This construction not only positions the holders out of the way but does so without restricting the normal content supporting area of the tray and provides openings at opposite corners of said tray, thereby preventing accumulation of dirt therein and aiding the cleansing operation by permitting passage therethrough of water and the like.

It will be apparent that I have provided an automobile refreshment tray assembly or complete unit adapted to be attached to practically all automobile bodies now in use or built into new ones as they are manufactured, and the curved design of the side construction of the sleeve and tray not only adding to the strength thereof and the smoother substantially non-friction operation of the tray, but such design without corners provides a sanitary construction, easily cleansed with a cloth or napkins. Also the overhanging edges of the side walls of the tray by engaging the glasses or beverage bottles at points spaced from their bottoms tend to prevent their upsetting when in tilted positions owing to the uneven position of the tray by reason of the sloping terrain on which the automobile may be standing, such side wall construction lending itself particularly to the accommodation of glasses and bottles of varying configurations and with enlarged bottoms, I

and irrespective of which, maintains them in upright position. I

It is further apparent that the coacting arrangement and detachable interconnection of the tray and sleeve is such that the engagement of sleeve T-stop or anchor member 10 when in engagement with the tray stop member l5 in conjunction with the rear extensions I 4' of side [3 fitting in the enveloping side walls 2 and against the adjacent surface of top 6 forms a co-acting locking and bracing action constituting a rigid connection between the sleeve and tray preventing completeremoval or vertical or lateral movement of the tray when in use.

From the above it will be apparent that I have provided an automobile refreshment tray assembly or unit embodying a supporting sleeve and telescoping tray of simple construction and pleasing appearance, and which may be constructed of metal, plastic or other suitable material, the rounded side edge formation not only adapted to reduce friction, enhance the smooth non-binding operation of the tray and prevent upsetting of the refreshment glasses and bottles even though they may be of irregular shape and have enlarged bottom portions, but provides a sanitary easily cleaned structure, including condiment holders within the tray and atthe same time removed from the contents supporting area, and also the coacting sleeve locking and tray stop features in conjunction with the tray rear end side construction effect a rigid interlocking and bracing of the tray in open position so as to support a capacity amount of refreshment contents without wobbling or tilting movement with respect to said sleeve even during normal travel movement of the automobile, yet simple in construction, easily installable, manufacturable at a minimum cost, and efficient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is most efficient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of my invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claim without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by letters patent is as set forth in the following claim:

A refreshment tray assembly for automobiles adapted to support beverage glasses and bottles carried thereby in upright position comprising an attachable sleeve structure formed with curved sides, a tray formed with a bottom, an end member, curved side members conforming to and adapted to slidably engage in the sides of said sleeve, said members being formed with inwardly extending overhanging edges adapted to supportingly engage the sides ofbeverage glasses and bottles supported by the tray to maintain them in upright positions irrespective of their configurations, the ends of said side members adjacent to the end member being formed with struck down apertured portions constituting holders adapted to receive condiment containers, such construction providing openings in which said holders are positioned off-set with respect to the normal contents supporting area cf the tray, and coacting means between the sleeve and tray to normally prevent complete disengagement of the tray when in extended position.

CLYDE W. MORGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

